It can feel frustrating when you don’t see your desired results when working out or playing a sport. Unfortunately, your inexperience could hold you back, decrease your enjoyment, and even increase your risk of an injury.
If your fitness program or sporting performance isn’t improving your health or causes pulled muscles or other painful injuries, you might need to make a few adjustments to your routine and prevent blunders. Here are five common fitness mistakes beginners make.
- Sticking to a Cardio Exercise Program
Many people believe a cardiovascular exercise program alone will help them lose weight, tone up, and increase their strength. While cardio will help you burn calories and feel healthier and happier, you must combine it with a strength training routine to reach your fitness potential.
As people tend to lose muscle from the age of 30 onwards, strength training is an ideal solution for staying fit and healthy. It improves muscle mass, which will help you burn more calories and increase your metabolism to lose weight at a quicker rate.
- Rushing Through Reps
Exercise can feel difficult at times, especially for beginners. As a result, you might feel tempted to rush through your reps to finish a workout as soon as possible. However, this tactic will raise your blood pressure and increase the likelihood of a joint injury. Slow down when completing weightlifting reps, and exhale during the hardest points to improve your strength and endurance.
- Wearing the Wrong Clothing and Accessories
The clothing and accessories you wear can determine your performance at the gym when running outdoors or during a sport. If you wear uncomfortable contacts or poorly fitted clothing, your focus will be split during physical activity. Reach your fitness goals at a quicker rate by wearing breathable, lightweight fabrics, supportive footwear, and comfortable sports contacts. It will ensure you don’t need to cool down, ease a blister, or adjust your lenses when working out or during the middle of a game.
- Not Drinking Enough Water
Don’t skip running another few miles on a treadmill, as dehydration can play havoc with your health and fitness. If you fail to drink enough H20 during exercise, you will increase your risk of painful muscle spasms and aches. Plus, you may experience fatigue, poor heat regulation, and an increased heart rate. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after physical activity to improve your mental and physical function.
- Failing to Warm Up and Cool Down
Warming up and cooling down is crucial for every newbie, amateur, and professional athlete. If you fail to do so, you will increase your likelihood of an injury during exercise, and you are more likely to suffer from muscle aches and pains the next day. Reach your fitness goals sooner rather than later by warming up before exercise and cooling down. Your body will thank you for it, and you will find it much easier to keep up with a workout buddy.